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Brought my 2011 X5d to the dealer for its first service -10600mi, My SA mentions that the techs were only able to fill 2gal of DEF (4x .5gal) through the no spill port. I dont want to tell them what to do but arent they supposed to use a separate equipment for the drain and refill? I remember seeing the PDF file.
Could I have used a mere 2gal of DEF fluid in almost 11k miles?
Doesnt our system have a 6gal. capacity?

Can someone with a link to the PDF file post here so I can show the dealer -thanks.

(2) When I had it done this Summer on my 2010 35D and questioned the use of only two containers of DEF, the Service Manager said BMW had changed the policy to fill only, not flush and fill.

That said, if it only took 2 gallons, it does sound like they only filled the active tank and skipped the passive tank.

Well this time when I went in for 2nd service abt a week ago, SA mentioned that they have drained it all out and filled it up again. May be I got lucky or my SA didnt have all information. I will have to check my invoice how much they actually used.

He did mention that there is change in policy now (CBS). According to which based on miles I put on my car I will have to go in twice next yr for service. 1 for free oil change after 13k miles and other is for complete car check up (after 7k miles) in which they will change some filters.

He did mention that there is change in policy now (CBS). According to which based on miles I put on my car I will have to go in twice next yr for service. 1 for free oil change after 13k miles and other is for complete car check up (after 7k miles) in which they will change some filters.

Yes, I noticed I am now tracking two difference services in the i-drive display, one at 7,000 mi and an oil change at 9,000 mi. I'm guessing that the 7,000 mi one is for a fuel filter change.

And it does seem that the OP's dealer is not very up-to-date on BMW SIB's. I recall seeing an SIB that told the dealers that BMW NA would not reimburse the dealers for the half-gallon DEF bottles if they used them for service... the SIB said the dealers must use only the 2.5 gallon DEF bottles for service purposes.

There is DIY thread on e90 for 330d. If its same location for 335d then from pics it didnt seem very difficult to do. You just need get under car, remove some nuts and bolts. And I have no idea about x5

Yups when go in for service they are supposed to drain DEF and refill it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penguin

(1) Post #19 in the thread I referenced is from a BMW technician, and

(2) When I had it done this Summer on my 2010 35D and questioned the use of only two containers of DEF, the Service Manager said BMW had changed the policy to fill only, not flush and fill.

That said, if it only took 2 gallons, it does sound like they only filled the active tank and skipped the passive tank.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmerdiesel

Well this time when I went in for 2nd service abt a week ago, SA mentioned that they have drained it all out and filled it up again. May be I got lucky or my SA didnt have all information. I will have to check my invoice how much they actually used.

He did mention that there is change in policy now (CBS). According to which based on miles I put on my car I will have to go in twice next yr for service. 1 for free oil change after 13k miles and other is for complete car check up (after 7k miles) in which they will change some filters.

I went through whole thread and it seems they do flush it but not on first service. I went for 2nd service so thats probably why they flushed it. I need to go through links posted by tlak again to know what and when its done.

I had emailed the documents to my SA -and he mentions that they no longer drain the DEF fluid -they are unwilling to show me their documents saying that BMW requires them to only fill it now. So 2gal is what they put in.

I had emailed the documents to my SA -and he mentions that they no longer drain the DEF fluid -they are unwilling to show me their documents saying that BMW requires them to only fill it now. So 2gal is what they put in.

As for my vehicle -I dont know, Ill find out if my DEF will make it to my next oil change in 11k mi. Maybe I did only use 2 gal worth of DEF

Highly unlikely. I'd place a very high probability on them only filling the active tank. While one hopes that they know there are two tanks, it is not promising that they apparently didn't know BMW NA will not reimburse them for using the 1/2 gallon, rather than 2.5 gallon, bottles of DEF.

Highly unlikely. I'd place a very high probability on them only filling the active tank. While one hopes that they know there are two tanks, it is not promising that they apparently didn't know BMW NA will not reimburse them for using the 1/2 gallon, rather than 2.5 gallon, bottles of DEF.

OK, I had my first service done today. Not very encouraging. They told me it was just an oil change. I told them that at a minimum it required the DEF to be filled and that there was a software recall. They found the software recall but the SA still said it didn't need DEF. Finally he talked to the guy at the next booth and he said they top up "the fluid". Apparently they aren't familiar with the name DEF.

Well, when I went to pick the car up I didn't have my glasses so I couldn't read the invoice. When I got home, there was no mention of DEF on the paperwork. I would assume that there would be a notation of the amount of DEF used on the paperwork if it was done. Can anyone confirm that? (Part numbers would also help!)

Well, when I went to pick the car up I didn't have my glasses so I couldn't read the invoice. When I got home, there was no mention of DEF on the paperwork. I would assume that there would be a notation of the amount of DEF used on the paperwork if it was done. Can anyone confirm that? (Part numbers would also help!)

Ted, I'd guess that if they had done anything regarding DEF, it would show up on your invoice as charges, for both product and labor (sounds like you think the same thing). I think you are drawing the only reasonable conclusion, that they didn't touch the DEF.

Ted, I'd guess that if they had done anything regarding DEF, it would show up on your invoice as charges, for both product and labor (sounds like you think the same thing). I think you are drawing the only reasonable conclusion, that they didn't touch the DEF.

Yeah, those are the same presumptions that I am harboring. Now it appears that they won't touch the phone either<g>! I've had a call in to the service manager since early this morning with no response<g>...

You don't know the half of it. When I called up to make the appointment, I told them it was a diesel and they looked it up on their computer and confirmed that understanding. Then they told me it is just an oil change and asked if I wanted to wait for it. I said "no" it takes more than an oil change, it needs DEF and there is a software campaign on that car.

When I brought it in, after checking the computer, the SA again said its just an oil change and I could wait. I said "no" it needs DEF and there is a software update. After a couple more back and forths, he agreed that it needed the software upgrade but didn't agree on DEF. Finally he asked the guy next to him who told him that they fill "the fluid" when they do the oil. It appeared that he had no idea what DEF is or that diesels need anything different from gassers.

Needless to say, they didn't manage to get it right even though they had the car the whole day!

I called the service manager the next morning to get something done about it. I got her voice mail. No one called me back. I guess I have to try again on Monday... Prepaid service isn't all its cracked up to be. You're sort of stuck with the company you bought the car from - for good or for bad.

You don't know the half of it. When I called up to make the appointment, I told them it was a diesel and they looked it up on their computer and confirmed that understanding. Then they told me it is just an oil change and asked if I wanted to wait for it. I said "no" it takes more than an oil change, it needs DEF and there is a software campaign on that car.

When I brought it in, after checking the computer, the SA again said its just an oil change and I could wait. I said "no" it needs DEF and there is a software update. After a couple more back and forths, he agreed that it needed the software upgrade but didn't agree on DEF. Finally he asked the guy next to him who told him that they fill "the fluid" when they do the oil. It appeared that he had no idea what DEF is or that diesels need anything different from gassers.

Needless to say, they didn't manage to get it right even though they had the car the whole day!

I called the service manager the next morning to get something done about it. I got her voice mail. No one called me back. I guess I have to try again on Monday... Prepaid service isn't all its cracked up to be. You're sort of stuck with the company you bought the car from - for good or for bad.

a

__________________

Regards,
TED

Last edited by Tedj101; 11-13-2010 at 09:53 AM.
Reason: This is a mistake - I need to delete it but can't figure out how